Somaliland Update: Clinic Outreach Report
Updating report of donkey clinic activities in Nov and December 2017
Social and Animal Welfare Service SAWS with collaboration of Animal Aid Abroad Australia implemented vet clinic for donkeys to treat working donkey suffered from overloaded and overworked due to the lack of knowledge and skills of owners/users on donkey welfare management, SAWS is inspired by the vision that working animals should be respected as living creatures that experience pain, fear and suffering. Its objectives are to protect all working animals from torture, abuse and painful actions committed by owners,
The livelihood of thousands of Somali poor people were depend on donkey activities and earn daily income to survive their families, funds from Australia people improved the health status of many donkeys, and Somali people who owns working animals were very much appreciated and thanked to animal aid abroad for their generosity assistance to treat donkeys.
A total of 412 donkeys were treated during in the two months (November and December) mobile clinic treated donkeys with various diseases and provided free veterinary care for sick and injuries donkeys, at the same time, clinic team also advised with the owners about protecting the animals with humane harnesses while working., our partner Animal Aid Abroad support made possible to change attitude of owners and enable to prevent avoidable suffering from their donkeys
The clinic targeted to water points where working donkeys gathered which located at Hargeisa north villages as Xeedho, Koodbuur, Darasalaam and hagal, 2 skilled vet doctors were involved the clinic operations, as clinic team
observed, there is tremendous need for vet services in this area, because the area never received vet clinics, severe wounds were a very common at clinic, mostly caused by poor harnesses and shortage of feeding.
Most cases treated the clinic were respiratory problems, because weather of Somaliland is too cold in the months of winter as November, December and January, donkey owners do not use shelter for their animals during overnight, during in the cold weather donkey need to keep warm,
Injections thereby provided134 donkeys with respiratory problems as well as provided necessary de-worming treatments and vitamins, without of Animal Aid Abroad, we could not to treat these donkeys, during the under operation the clinic provided advice and recommendation on better welfare management of animals. These areas we conducted mobile clinic was first time to treat donkeys as owners/users believe donkey doesn’t need treatment
Challenges
The biggest challenges faced for working donkeys are lack of vet treatments, lack of knowledge of owners or workers about better management of donkey welfare. Most of owners are often living in hard conditions and they don’t have resources to the wellbeing of their animals
Recommendations
1. Regular vet clinic for working donkey treatment is indispensible
2. Save place to keep sick and injuries donkeys as sanctuary to treat and care donkeys is needed
3. Donkey community in Hargeisa and its surrounding are requested to continue the clinic operation to treat their animals without charge, As said Mr Ahmed farah, Owner of donkey, it was the first time ever that our working donkeys received free treatments, we thanked to SAWS and Its partner Animal Aid Abroad
4. Conduct workshops and training on donkey hardness making and general donkey care
5. Conduct training of village leaders and community leaders who are very influential in the villages who will help improve the welfare of donkeys through putting the agenda in the village meetings on day to day works showing how to use improved harnesses
6. To continue free treatment intervention on neglected donkeys whose owners can’t afford Vet services for their working animals
7. As we realized there is need to organize awareness of humane education of donkey community helping to change owners’ attitudes and practices to prevent avoidable wounds for their animals